diff --git a/config.example.json b/config.example.json
index c082509..a12cabd 100644
--- a/config.example.json
+++ b/config.example.json
@@ -2,5 +2,7 @@
   "MatrixRoom": "!exampleEXAMPLEexample:cyberia.club",
   "MatrixToken": "syt_exampleEXAMPLE_exampleEXAMPLE_example",
   "MatrixUsername": "@consensus-bot:cyberia.club",
-  "MatrixURL": "https://matrix.cyberia.club"
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+  "MatrixURL": "https://matrix.cyberia.club",
+  "WarningTime": "144h",
+  "ActivationTimeAfterWarning":"24h"
+}
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index a16a221..8469cad 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"reflect"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -25,10 +26,12 @@ const (
 var config Config
 
 type Config struct {
-	MatrixRoom     string
-	MatrixURL      string
-	MatrixUsername string
-	MatrixToken    string
+	MatrixRoom                 string
+	MatrixURL                  string
+	MatrixUsername             string
+	MatrixToken                string
+	WarningTime                string
+	ActivationTimeAfterWarning string
 }
 
 type RecordCount struct {
@@ -38,11 +41,12 @@ type RecordCount struct {
 }
 
 type Item struct {
-	author string
-	date   time.Time
-	number string
-	name   string
-	path   string
+	author       string
+	date         time.Time
+	number       string
+	name         string
+	path         string
+	currentTimer *time.Timer
 }
 
 func (i Item) Status() string {
@@ -300,6 +304,47 @@ important: let all items sit for awhile prior to closure
 	return nil
 }
 
+func createTriggerOneDayAutoDecide(item Item) func() {
+	//TODO: add functions to extend the timer, and to cancel the timer if the item is closed before it fires
+	return func() {
+		records := countRecords(item.path)
+		if records.approvals != 0 && records.concerns == 0 {
+			handleClose(item.number, "approved")
+
+		}
+		if records.concerns > 0 {
+			handleClose(item.number, "cancelled")
+		}
+		if records.approvals == 0 && records.concerns == 0 {
+
+			openDays := time.Since(item.date).Hours() / 24
+			msg := fmt.Sprintf("consensus item %s is %v days old... but nobody has approved or concerned yet. Let's give it another %s, shall we?", item.number, openDays, config.WarningTime)
+			err := sendMessage(msg)
+			if err != nil {
+				log.Println(fmt.Sprintf("Error (from notifFunc) sending message for item %s: %v", item.name, err))
+			}
+			notifFunc := createNotifFunc(item)
+			warningTime, _ := time.ParseDuration(config.WarningTime)
+			time.AfterFunc(warningTime, notifFunc)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func createNotifFunc(item Item) func() {
+	//TODO: add functions to extend the timer, and to cancel the timer if the item is closed before it fires
+	return func() {
+		openDays := time.Since(item.date).Hours() / 24
+		msg := fmt.Sprintf("consensus item %s is now %v days old: %s\nThe item will auto-pass after %s if there is unanimous approval, and auto-fail otherwise! So, now is a good time to weigh in if you haven't yet and have an opinion!", item.number, openDays, item.name, config.ActivationTimeAfterWarning)
+		err := sendMessage(msg)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Println(fmt.Sprintf("Error (from notifFunc) sending message for item %s: %v", item.name, err))
+		}
+		triggerOneDayAutoDecide := createTriggerOneDayAutoDecide(item)
+		activationTime, _ := time.ParseDuration(config.ActivationTimeAfterWarning)
+		time.AfterFunc(activationTime, triggerOneDayAutoDecide)
+	}
+}
+
 func handleNew(event *gomatrix.Event) error {
 	body, ok := event.Body()
 	if !ok {
@@ -330,6 +375,12 @@ func handleNew(event *gomatrix.Event) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	//automatically check-in after time specified in configuration, then after the other time specified in configuration
+	//approve if it has unanimous approval or cancel if any concerns
+	notifFunc := createNotifFunc(item)
+	warningTime, _ := time.ParseDuration(config.WarningTime)
+	time.AfterFunc(warningTime, notifFunc)
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -489,6 +540,11 @@ func handleClose(itemNumber string, status string) {
 		sendMessage("please specify an item number. see !help")
 		return
 	}
+
+	if !isValidItemNumber(itemNumber) {
+		return
+	}
+
 	itemPath := recordDir + "/" + itemNumber + ".txt"
 
 	if !fileExists(itemPath) {
@@ -523,12 +579,28 @@ func handleClose(itemNumber string, status string) {
 	sendMessage(msg)
 }
 
+func isValidItemNumber(itemNumberCandidate string) bool {
+	_, err := strconv.Atoi(itemNumberCandidate)
+	if err != nil {
+		err = sendMessage("hold yer horses there pard, that ain't no item number like I ever seen before...")
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Println(fmt.Sprintf("Error (from isValidItemNumber) sending message: %v", err))
+		}
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
 func handleShow(itemNumber string) {
 	if strings.TrimSpace(itemNumber) == "" {
 		sendMessage("please specify an item number. see !help")
 		return
 	}
 
+	if !isValidItemNumber(itemNumber) {
+		return
+	}
+
 	itemPath := recordDir + "/" + itemNumber + ".txt"
 	if !fileExists(itemPath) {
 		sendMessage("item specified does not exist")
@@ -546,30 +618,49 @@ func handleShow(itemNumber string) {
 
 func handleComment(event *gomatrix.Event, itemNumber string, comment string, emoji string) {
 	if strings.TrimSpace(itemNumber) == "" {
-		sendMessage("please specify an item number. see !help")
+		err := sendMessage("please specify an item number. see !help")
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Println(fmt.Sprintf("Error (from handleComment) sending messag: %v", err))
+		}
 		return
 	}
 
 	if strings.TrimSpace(comment) == "" {
-		sendMessage("please specify a comment. see !help")
+		err := sendMessage("please specify a comment. see !help")
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Println(fmt.Sprintf("Error (from handleComment) sending messag: %v", err))
+		}
+		return
+	}
+
+	if !isValidItemNumber(itemNumber) {
 		return
 	}
 
 	itemPath := recordDir + "/" + itemNumber + ".txt"
 
 	if !fileExists(itemPath) {
-		sendMessage("item specified does not exist")
+		err := sendMessage("item specified does not exist")
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Println(fmt.Sprintf("Error (from handleComment) sending messag: %v", err))
+		}
 		return
 	}
 
 	item, err := loadItemByPath(itemPath)
 	if err != nil {
-		sendMessage("item not found: " + err.Error())
+		err = sendMessage("item not found: " + err.Error())
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Println(fmt.Sprintf("Error (from handleComment) sending messag: %v", err))
+		}
 		return
 	}
 
 	if !item.isActive() {
-		sendMessage(fmt.Sprintf("item %s (%s) is not active and may not be commented on", item.number, item.name))
+		err = sendMessage(fmt.Sprintf("item %s (%s) is not active and may not be commented on", item.number, item.name))
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Println(fmt.Sprintf("Error (from handleComment) sending messag: %v", err))
+		}
 		return
 	}